A MAN with a history of depression killed himself days after pleading with his doctor to be admitted to hospital for treatment, an inquest heard.

Michael James Ridehalgh, a 44-year-old contract cleaner, bled to death in his Blackburn home after cutting open his arm with a craft knife.

Mr Ridehalgh, who lived with his partner Christine Lupton in Wolseley Street, Ewood, was turned away from Queen's Park Hospital because of a shortage of beds.

He had been suffering from depression since October 1997 and had been admitted to hospital twice for treatment and was also on medication.

A report from GP Dr Misra was read out at the inquest in Blackburn.

It said: "Mr Ridehalgh contacted me and said his condition had deteriorated and he could not cope.

"He had tried to get into hospital but was told there were not enough beds."

The doctor told Mr Ridehalgh he wanted to see him as soon as possible but the next day he was informed Mr Ridehalgh was dead. Mrs Lupton discovered Mr Ridehalgh slumped over the kitchen sink when she returned home from work.

There was blood on the floor and the sink and Mr Ridehalgh could not be revived, despite the efforts of paramedics called to the scene.

A post-mortem examination later revealed Mr Ridehalgh opened a 3in wound in his arm with a sharp knife.

Mrs Lupton said: "I lived with Michael for six years and we had a wonderful relationship. He was a caring and helpful person.

"All he wanted to do was to be nice to people and he had many friends."

Mrs Lupton described how Mr Ridehalgh started becoming depressed last October and he told her he wanted to kill himself.

The final words he said to her when she left for work were: "I love you and I always will."

Mr Rebello ruled that Mr Ridehalgh himself killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

The coroner said: "Medical illness is a very difficult thing and it is a case of: There by the grace of God go I.

"I can only hope that people remember the good times with Mr Ridehalgh."

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